2011 Achievements

This year I kept better track of my builds and which theme(s) they were associated with. I also was able to achieve a few other goals for my hobby:

• I started a blog of my Spitfire builds;
• I participated in 2 Group Builds;
• I completed 9 Spitfires/Seafires; my goal was 10 and I expected to get 8 back in October.

In order of construction, here they are:

Hobby Boss Spitfire Mk Vb, EP312 / D-K, personal mount of WC Dereck Kain, Edku, Egypt, 1944. Not a “bad” kit, but if you source the landing gear covers (mine came from a Revell Mk Vb), a new prop (Quickboost), and a new canopy (I used the kit one) it looks the part. Total cost is higher than it should be, given the aftermarket needed to make it acceptable. I’ll not do another. Dark Green, Dark Earth, Azure. Markings from spares and masks.


Airfix Spitfire Mk IXc, 4th PS, 52nd FG, Corsica, January 1944, F/O Bob Hoover. I didn’t correct the kit like I should have as I didn’t realize the inaccuracies. This is a great kit to learn on, inexpensive and accurate in overall shape. Earth over Light Blue. Decals by Rising Decals (72-019).


Airfix Spitfire Mk IIa, P7308/XR-D, 71 “Eagle” Squadron, P/O Bill Dunn, 27 August 1941. I finally got a new tooling Mk I here in the US and got the 3D-Kits Mk II conversion set at about the same time. I decided to make a IIa and try both out, since I liked the DFS in transition. Much has been said about the kit and conversion set, I’ve since purchased a half dozen more kits (the Mk I/II boxing) and the LR conversion from 3D-Kits. For the price this kit is an excellent basis for anything from an early Mk I to a Mk Va. Dark Green, Ocean Grey, Medium Sea Grey and Sky.


Airfix Spitfire Mk IXc (early), MA585/KH-B, 403 Squadron RCAF, P/O George Beurling, 1943, (September Theme, “Canadian Bacon” and Spitfire Group Build online). My second attempt at the new tooling Mk IX, this time I corrected the kit by backdating the elevators, removed the wheel well bulges and sourced 5-spoke wheels. I also improved the cockpit with a better seat and column. Decals came from the Canadian IPMS sheet for RCAF aces. Dark Green, Ocean Grey, Medium Sea Grey & Sky.


Airfix Spitfire Mk I, R6595, 610 Squadron, RAF, Biggin Hill, August 1940, (Airfix Group Build online). Another “old school” build, I decided to take my old 1979 tooling and make it a quick build like I would have back in 1979. Another subject chosen because of the history and with a unique scheme (too large unit markings and fin flash backwards). Hand painted Dark Green, Dark Earth and Sky; decals are from an Aeromaster Sheet on the BoB (72-028).


CMR Spitfire Prototype K5054. I’ve quite a few of CMR’s Spitfires & Seafires to fill in my gaps. This is a lovely kit, it went together very quickly and I must say I’m getting much better at the vac canopy. Overall Light Grey-Blue (I used RLM 76).


CMR Seafire FR.47, VP459, 179/P, 800 Squadron FAA, HMS Triumph, Fall 1950 (November Theme, “Land of the Morning Calm”). While I believe the Spitfire to be the most beautiful aircraft ever designed, the Seafire FR.47 is nearly my favorite of the line. In this livery it’s very attractive and the slim lines of the original Spitfire are taken to their limits. The only challenging portion of this build was the prop -- I wanted it to turn and may just replace it with a set that is permanently fixed. The vac canopy was no trouble at all.


Airfix Spitfire Mk I (early), K9794, WZ T, 19 Squadron RAF, Duxford August 1938. Responding to another modeler who attempted to build their new tooling Spitfire and experienced an awful mess, I documented and shared my build as part of the same Airfix Group Build. I decided to complete it with spare decals from a CMR Mk I, as this was a scheme I wanted in my collection; albeit very close to the kit scheme.


Fujimi Spitfire FR XIVe, 2 Squadron, 2nd TAF, RAF Wunsdorf, Germany, 1947. I began this build based on Paul Lucas’ excellent Camouflage & Markings, RAF Fighters 1945-1950 Overseas Based. Using period photos that appear to show a very dark scheme he surmised these were FR XIVe in the low-level recce scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey, Extra Dark Sea Green over PRU Mauve. Alas, more recent research indicates that while authorized, no FR XIVe were painted thus, and all were delivered in a modified DFS of Dark Green, Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey with a Night spinner. A fairly easy build, I had to modify the tail wheel to be retractible and open the starboard camera port. My first use of the newer Tamiya paints for the DFS.

Those last 3 will get their own postings soon in order to provide the usual details.  I failed to complete the MPM Spitfire FR Mk XVIII, but December was just too busy for me. 

I also got my other blog started, focused on all my models, not just Spitfires.

Thanks for looking.

Mk Va, R7347, USA Summer 1941

Spitfire Mk Va, R7347, assigned to USAAF for testing, Summer 1941

It seems there is always much to learn about the Spitfire.  When my interest in the Spitfire first began, I probably did what most modelers do:  I made a list.  The list started with Mk I, followed by II, III, IV, et cetera until I thought (wrongly at the time) that I had the full List of All Spitfire Marks that began with I in 1939 and ended with XVI in 1945.  I filled it in as I read about the different marks and where they were used.  Rarely did I see the II, never a III or IV nor a VI; an occasional VIII, lots of V and IX.  No X, XI or XIII.  No XV.  Oh joy, it’s really not a big list so it won’t take me long to make one of each just to see what they looked like, in the flesh (plastic) which was all I’d expect given how rare they are.

Then those darned suffix letters cropped up.  What could that be?  After nearly a year of reading and collecting books I realized it was the armament...sort of.  And the Mark number was basically tied to the engine...sort of.  Some other minor refinements came to play as well.  Suddenly my list grew.  And I hadn’t considered where the PR variants fell, nor those prefix letters.  That's a story for another day...

The Mk V came about as a response to the Me-109F.  Faster and higher flying than the Emil it was replacing, it outclassed the Mk I/II in frontline service with the RAF in 1940-41.  Like any good aircraft manufacturer, Supermarine was working with the RAF to develop a better Spitfire in the guise of the Mk III.  However so many improvements to the basic airframe as well as a new engine meant critical delays in production and one must remember that at the time, the RAF was licking its wounds from the BoB and facing Rommel in the desert.

So the obvious question was asked, “What if we stick the new Merlin on a Mk II airframe, and do it such that we don’t have to modify the airframe so much?”  The engine in the Mk III was the Merlin XX; which was needed for the Hurricane II so an uprated Merlin 45 that was based on the Merlin III was chosen.  It fit the cowling of the Mk I/II and just needed some slight mods that were easy and quick to implement.  The engine was “hotter” so needed a bit more cooling...the larger oil cooler from the Mk III would do.  A bit more torque so we’ll need to stiffen the fuselage...that’s a bit easy.  The Mk V was born and would be a short production run until the Mk III was ready.

History tells us the Mk III was cancelled and the Mk V the most produced single Mk of the Spitfire family (if one doesn’t combine the Mk IX and XVI production).  So much for an interim type.

The Aircraft
When Mk V production began, the cannon armed wing was still causing problems.  So initial production was the 8-gun Va. The intent all along was to make the Mk V a cannon armed variant. Some Mk V were conversions from earlier Mk I/II airframes.  Later in 1941 when the cannon armed “b” wing was fixed most surviving Mk Va aircraft were retrofitted to the Vb standard; as well as any Mk Ib/IIb that were still operational.  Some didn’t but those generally were no longer considered front line aircraft and were used for OTU duties.

R7347 was one of the last of a batch of Mk I’s ordered as Mk I’s but delivered as Mk Va.  Delivered in April 1941 to 39 Maintenance Unit, then transferred to the USAAF for testing at Wright Field later in April 1941, arriving in November 1941.  It remained there for testing until January 1943.  Unfortunately, I do not yet know the fate of R7347.

References: Spitfire the History, RAF Fighters 1945-1950 Overseas Based, Spitfire in Action

The Model
There are currently three alternatives for making a Mk Va:

1. AZModel (limited run, limited availability but a very nice model)
2. Airfix Mk I/IIa (contains the parts but no instructions)
3. Bash together a Mk I/IIa with a Mk Vb to get a Mk I/IIb and a Mk Va (been there, done that, it didn’t work for me)

I have the AZModel kit but I’m reserving that for the usual Va subject, Douglas Bader’s W3185/DB that he was shot down in while over France in 1942.

The recent tooling by Airfix includes not only all the parts necessary to model the Mk I and Mk II, but the larger oil cooler for the Mk V as well as the proper De Havilland prop.  When first released in 2009 there was speculation that a Mk Va was soon to follow, but after 3 years still no Mk Va from Airfix.  So it was off to the spares box for decals.

It turns out the AZModel boxing has the decals for R7347 when tested in the US.  That certainly makes this all very easy. 

Construction is straightforward, but use part numbers 41 and 42 for the oil cooler, the round exhausts parts 21 and 22, and the DH prop.  Photos show the IFF aerials, so I drilled 0.1mm holes on each side, at about frame 17.5.  That is about 12 inches forward of frame 18, which is the extreme trailing edge of the wing/fuselage fairing.  I then measure up 9 inches from the horizontal stringer that aligns with the bottom of the cockpit door.  My method for installing these after all painting and decalling is done, is to superglue one end of the invisible thread into the elevator hinge line (underneath where you can't see them) and once cured run each into the holes.  Using tweezers I pull the IFF antenna taught through the cockpit opening and put a drop of glue to hold them.  I then put the canopy on. You won't see them on this model as I didn't put them on...frankly I forgot and the canopy is on, so there you have it.

Now, technically when on the ground the IFF aerials should be disconnected from the horizontal stabilizers so a ground mechanic or plane captain cannot accidently break it; but it looks "wrong" to me as a model when done correctly because it appears the antenna are broken off. 

Painting is standard Spitfire scheme for April 1941: Temperate Land Scheme of Dark Green (Humbrol Hu116), Dark Earth (Hu29) with Sky (Hu90) undersides, spinner and fuselage band.  I used acrylics throughout.  Night serial and no squadron codes.

Summary
An easy build, albeit I didn't do this one over a weekend, I could have had I wanted to.  I spent extra time on it and unfortunately the build got delayed by 3 months when I transferred due to a job change.

Thanks for looking...

A Spitfire from Down Under

Spitfire Mk Vc Trop, BS219/ZP-X, 457 Squadron, RAAF, 1943, F/O Frank "Bush" Hamilton, Camden NSW



Until the Sword Vc arrived the only real option was to use the Airfix kit. Since the Revell Vb wing is poor on a good day, I decided to graft a spare Vc wing from an Airfix kit (using the kit to make a Vb) and the fuselage of the Revell kit. I could have done a much better job with it, and I hope to replace this particular subject someday. This was built back in 2010.

The Subject

BS219 was part of the first group of Spitfires sent to Australia. Bush Hamilton enlisted in the RAF in 1940, earned his wings in July 1941 and was posted back to Australia in May 1942. He and BS219 were joined together in November 1942 and remained together until June 1943 when he was listed as missing in action whilst flying another aircraft. He had 3 kills to his credit when he was lost. BS219 remained with 457 Squadron until November 1943.

The aircraft was probably delivered in Dark Earth, Middle Stone over Azure Blue as it was originally intended for operations in the Middle East. The desert scheme was not appropriate to Australia so the Middle Stone was overpainted with Foliage Green. Additionally, the red centers to the national markings were removed as well as the red from the fin flash. The fuselage band and spinner were probably RAAF Sky Blue, which is slightly different than RAF Sky Blue.

The Model

My first attempt at making a Vc turned out pretty good. With that one I married a spare CMR Seafire wing to a Revell Vb fuselage and I liked the result. This time around I chose to use a spare Airfix wing from a Vc kit. I don't think it came out very well, but that's because I chose not to thin the Airfix wing. To be fair, it fit well at the leading edge of the wing root and in my haste to do this subject I had glued the wing halves together before I realized the trailing edge was so thick.

Construction was very straight forward, really not any different than any other Spitfire kit. I did have to fiddle with the Vokes filter to make it all fit, but that came out pretty well.



For paint I used Humbrol 29 for Dark Earth, Aeromaster Medium Green (the USAAF color) for Foliage Green and an early recipe of Testors Azure Blue with 6 drops of Testors Red to make it just a bit more purple. The Sky Blue trim is the only acrylic, it was Pollyscale RAF Sky Blue.

It was sealed with Future (Kleer) before decals. The decals are from Aeromaster sheet 72-141 and went on perfectly using the Microscale system of Set first, then Sol. I sealed with a coat of Future with a drop of Testors clear Flat in the paint cup; this tones down the glossiness of the Future but leaves a smooth finish.

I was a bit heavy handed on the weathering, too much wash and "up close" it looks like I missed some areas. I also realized, too late, that the wing walk way stripe should be under the national marking, not over it.

Summary

This was an easy conversion, but as mentioned above, I could do better. I've got a Sword Vc in the works and it is much much nicer, both as a basic kit for building and the finesse of the details. I like the subject, but don't have those markings anymore; I've got similar markings so will probably use those on a future Vc from "down under".




Thanks for looking...

Seafire Ib, MB345/K, 885 Squadron

Seafire Ib, MB345/K, 885 Squadron, HMS Formidable, May 1943



This was my first Spitfire conversion, built way back in 2006 or 2007 (I'm not sure when).

The Subject

MB345 was originally delivered as a Mk Vb, serial AR445, and converted to Seafire Ib standard in 1942. In January 1943 it was assigned to 885 Squadron.

This is a well photographed aircraft, typically on the deck FORMIDABLE and during the Sicily and Italy campaigns of 1943. I chose this subject for a simple reason: it was dead easy!

The Model

Just like the real aircraft this model started out as the Airfix Vb. The tooling is showing its age, but shape wise is still very accurate. Modifications were easy: I used a resin Seafire hook conversion (forgotten who made it) and added the strengthening panels to the sides using think plastic card. All done with the conversion.



Decals were sourced from my spares, using standard 8 inch black numerals and cutting out a white K from decal film.  The decals were of course applied over Future (Kleer) and then sealed under another coat of Future.



Paints were enamels, I used Humbrol paints that were listed as Tropical Sea Scheme colors for Dark Slate Grey, Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky. I won't list the colors because today I don't think they look right; at the time I had no idea what was righ or wrong for the TSS and when done this one didn't "look" right and still doesn't.

Summary

This was an easy conversion and I learned much about working with resin as this was also one of my first attempts at using resin extras other than simple wheels or props. I enjoyed the build and while it isn't as nice as the CMR kit (I have that one) it does fill a place on my shelf.

Thanks for looking...

US Navy Spitfires

Spitfire LF Vb, 4Q, VCS-7, 6 June 1944



This is one of those impulse builds that resulted when I was searching the web for Spitfire info and came across a site that summarized the use of Spitfires by a US Navy squadron. I had to do it! I built this model back in 2009 as part of an anniversary build for D-Day.

The Subject

When the US battleships and cruisers got to the European theater for Operation Neptune (the actual landings part of Overlord) everyone quickly noticed the aircraft used for spotting were obsolete biplanes, SOC-3 Seagull floatplanes. These would be no match for any fighters the Luftwaffe would put up against them. So the squadrons traded in their biplanes (albeit temporarily) for Spitfires.



The Spitfires were older Vb aircraft, retrofitted with cropped superchargers and clipped wings as they were primarily used for low level work by this time of the war. Because of their age they were referred to as "clipped, cropped, and clapped out". The Naval Spotting Pool of Spitfires and Seafires was formed to provide spotting to the supporting battleships and cruisers during the landings. Both FAA and USN aircraft were used.

After about a month VCS-7 returned their Spitfires to the RAF; the land forces had moved far enough inland that sea bombardment no longer was effective. From what I can find on the internet (I know, not the best source of research!) there was only a couple of close encounters with the Luftwaffe, neither side actually shot down the other.

The Model

I decided to do this one as a quick build from an Airfix kit. I chose not to clip the wings as I found one photo that showed the wingtips in place, and at the time I wasn't keen on trying to clip wings. I also wanted to brush paint the entire model, instead of my typical air brushing. I did, however, airbrush the base color of Medium Sea Grey.

The paints are a mix of Humbrol and Testors enamels. Standard colors for Dark Green, Ocean Grey and Medium Sea Grey; any old black and white. I used a mask for the code letters so that they'd match the Sky band and spinner.

Decals were from the spares box. The serial number is not visible in the only photo of 4Q I've found, so I decided not to include it.

Summary

This was an easy build, and very enjoyable. It felt "old school" and the stripes are just rough enough to look quickly put on as they were on 5 June.

Thanks for looking...

Bob Hoover's Spitfire

Airfix Spitfire Mk IXc, WD-QQ, 4th FS, 52nd FG, Corsica, Italy, 1944. Flown by Bob Hoover.

Another build from the past.  This is from Winter 2011, shortly after Airfix released their (then) new Mk IXc.  I wanted to build it quickly simply because it was, at the time, the best and only Mk IX available.  The Hasegawa kit has it's flaws and is typically quite expensive.  

Since I had the Yankee Spitfires sheet by Rising Decals (sheet number RD 72-019) that I'd used for the Mk Vc, I waffled over the two Mk IX subjects.  Ultimately I chose this one, simply because it was different AND it was flown by somebody I'd actually met/seen during one of his many air shows.

Since this was my first attempt at a Mk IX, and also my early forays into Spitfires in general, I didn't realize some of the details specific to an early Mk IXc.  Things such as the wider cannon bay covers (the bulge over the wings) and the wheel well bulges.  Both of these are characteristics of late Mk IX, and even postwar for the wheel well bulges.  Ah well, a reason to build more...

Paints are acrylics.  I used Pollyscale Sky Blue for the undersurfaces and either Tamiya Flat Earth or Pollyscale Italian light brown for the upper surfaces.  I didn't document which it was.  Since both colors are simply light brown and light blue, I felt like I had a bit of license.  I'd like to do this one again, with the correct configurations to the kit and maybe I'll try different colors then.

Thanks for looking...

PR XI PL776/Y

Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XI, PL776/Y, 681 Squadron RAF, Alipore, India 1944/45

This is another of those early passionate builds of Spitfires.  This time I wanted a PR bird but didn't want to make the typical PR XIX.  This was my second attempt at a PRU Blue aircraft, the first being the Mosquito PR XVI, which languished for a few years, not due to the paint, but due to decals.  Meanwhile I tackled this limited run kit by MPM way back in December 2008.

The Aircraft

The PR XI was basically a Mk VIII Merlin powered Spitfire, but with the unarmored wing of the PR IV, extra fuel tanks in the "wet" wings, and a non pressurized cockpit.  The nose is deeper to accommodate a larger oil sump for longer flights.  790 were produced in 1943-44.  The PR XI was the natural progression from the PR IV for a mass produced photo reconnaissance aircraft, replacing all of the earlier PR conversions and the PR IV from mid-1943.  The PR XI was subsequently replaced by the PR XIX, the Griffon powered variant.

681 Squadron served in the South East Asia Command (SEAC) theater.  Operating from Alipore airfield, India.  The squadron was first formed from Number 3 PRU at Dum Dum, India in January 1943, initially equipped with the PR IV.  The squadron re-equipped with the PR XI in October 1944 after they had moved to Alipore in May.  They moved to Mingdalon in June 1945.

The squadron re-equipped a final time to the PR XIX in August 1945 and then moved to Kai Tak airfield, Hong Kong in September with the Japanese surrender.

PL776/Y was completed 23 February 1944 and delivered to 681 Squadron on 17 April 1944.  She was used operationally until her engine cut and it made a belly landing near Whaiknyaung on 28 March 1945, she was struck off charge a month later.

The Model

This is a short run kit by MPM, kit number 72086.  It has options for one USAAF and two RAF machines with either the early rudder or later broad-chord pointed rudder.  It also contains some resin detail parts.  After clean up it went together quite easily for a limited run kit.  Frankly, cleaning up the parts was the most difficult part of the build.

Even the vac canopy was easy and I typically struggle with them.

The model was painted PRU Blue overall, using Model Master PRU Blue enamel.  The white SEAC identification bars were painted, although they came on the decal sheet.

The decals came in the kit and went on very nicely with just Micro-Sol and Set.

Summary

Even 5 years later the model still looks like one of my better results.  I didn't weather it at all as that was before my feeble attempts and botches, which is one reason I've gone back to no weathering; the models just look better.

Highly recommended as a first foray into limited run, if you can find the kit.  I've seen them at shows for very little, as some folks are put off by MPM, especially the older kits.

Thanks for looking...